PEARL was immersed in clouds today, making measurements impossible. Conditions were warmer at Eureka, with a temperature of -32 °C mid-day (wind chill resulted in it feeling as cold as -45 °C). PEARL was atypically similar, at -31 °C mid-day and with the wind chill making it feel closer to -44 °C. Most of the team spent the day inside PEARL, warm and comfortable.
Joseph and Dan made the best of the conditions outside by completing HBr and GPR ("ghost") tests. The ILS and modular efficiency results look good. The Bruker is as ready as it can be for solar measurements, and is awaiting sunlight. Once the calibration tests were complete, Joseph provided Dan with a detailed tour of the Bruker instrument.
Xiaoyi's UT-GBS and SAOZ instruments are working well. Xiaoyi finished the PEARL-GBS resolution tests and modified its labview code by adding a new elevation angle in the MAX-DOAS scanning sequence. The PEARL-GBS has been left measuring dark current overnight. Xiaoyi also tested the new suntracker computer.
Volodya ventured outside and successfully tested the SPS, MAESTRO and their tracker. Both computers for these instruments are running well. The weather prevented him from working on the tracker pointing, but he is ready to get this done as soon as there is sunlight.
Emily could not take data today due to the clouds and snow, but tested the CRL hatch remotely. It worked without any problems. Last night's data was cut off early because the hatch window got too frosty and the signal rate dropped. Today she worked on CRL software and analysis. Emily hopes run the lidar tonight if the weather clears up.
No ACE ozonesonde launches are planned until February 28.
The Polar Vortex continues to slowly move closer to Eureka. It is presently over the northern coast of Russia and extends north-east of Svalbard.
The team made the best of the disappointing weather conditions today, and anxiously await the start of solar measurements.